Reviews

Empire's Daughter by Marian L. Thorpe

queenterribletimy's review

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3.0

This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been aware of the Empire’s Legacy series by Marian L Thorpe for a while now. Partly because of some of my friends who are huge fans of the author and partly through other channels. But I never could make up my mind about whether Empire’s Daughter would be up my alley or not. On one hand, I love historical fiction – I have a degree in History for a reason, you know, but on the other, I’m not really interested in books with a lot of military action and battles and tactics, and what have you. Gimme political games over military stuff anytime. When I opened my requests for a short while and Marian L Thorpe got in touch, I thought why not? Let’s give it a chance and see where I end up with it.

But even after finishing it just in a couple of days, I still have no idea where I’m standing with the Empire’s Daughter. I don’t think I liked it, but at the same time, I can see what Thorpe was doing here and why many readers loved it. It tells the story of an Empire that needs to be changing after rigid rules were made about 200+ years ago as new challenges are rising.

It gives us an interesting insight into a society where men and women have their own divided worlds, rules, and roles and how these interact with each other, how even the smallest changes affect them, and what reactions are given by the people. Where same-sex relationships are normal, and the two worlds only meet twice a year when it’s time for the Festival where they can have liaisons in order to have children. And even then, women have a free choice whether they want to bear children or not, knowing that every boy has to be taken away at the age of 7 to become a soldier.

It’s a story told from the POV of Lena, a young woman by their standards, even if she is only 17. She lives through these changes, even encourages some, or at least has a say in them all the while she also learns that every decision has consequences. I sometimes struggled to remember she was actually 17, as she acted above her age, but then it’s easy to forget that we are judging these characters through our modern glasses, and that societal norms were very different centuries ago.

Thorpe’s writing style makes Empire’s Daughter a smooth and easy read. It’s easy to depict Tirvan (Lena’s village) and its many features, and the people living there. What I had issues with was the pacing. It was a bit too slow for my liking. I admit I grew bored at times, especially toward the halfway point. Personally, I enjoyed the last 30% or so the best, that’s where the book really got me interested, but that’s a bit too late. I wished the first 2/3rd of the book was trimmed down a bit and the ending was in the middle where things really got going. While I appreciate slow worldbuilding, here it was just super slow. This wouldn’t have been such a big problem if 1) I was invested in the characters, which I wasn’t (considering this book is pretty character-driven, that was an issue), and 2) if I enjoyed descriptions of different pieces of training and tactics and whatnot. It’s very much a case of it’s me, not the book.

My biggest complaint with Empire’s Daughter is that it’s too… clean. Sure, there is a bit of blood, a few people die “on screen”, and some heavy topics are brought up, but on the other hand, I never really got raw emotions, nor felt the realness of some situations (or most, anyway). Some things happen off-screen I think should have been in the focus – like that time one character saves another, we are told it happens, and everyone is happy, but I’d rather have read about that than how they spent a whole day making the waterfall climbable. Although, since this was written from the POV of Lena who wasn’t present, that would have been hard to pull off, but still.

Or another example is, although Lena has a partner in Maya, she eventually decides to lay with a man – we see some of that relationship building up, but we never get Lena’s feelings about her first time with a man, specifically – but then again, I might have missed the fact she already had a male partner at a Festival, although I doubt it. And most people are just really nice or understanding and welcoming and it’s just way too feel-goody for me, especially since this is a world where war is looming. And I understand that it was important to show that men in this world can be thoughtful and caring and have a soft side despite the fact they’ve been trained as soldiers since their birth. And yes, there are asshole characters – there always are – but they are few and far between and usually there to show how super nice everyone else is. It feels weird to complain about this as I like cozy reads, but I also prefer asshole characters. Not sure what that says about me…

One more thing I wanted to mention is the lack of religion – or rather, we know that there is a goddess, but faith doesn’t get an important role in this world, nor is there much talk about it. Which I find curious, because religion, myths, and legends were always at the center of most civilizations. And this is what fascinates me in any type of worldbuilding – how faith and god(s) come into play regarding the main plot or even just the characters’ everyday life.

I probably could go on with a lot more thoughts, but this already turned out to be another long review. So, in closing, I’m going to say that Empire’s Daughter is a debut novel that gives much food for thought. It’s not exactly what I expected and I might not have been the right audience, but I can see the intent behind it, and I’m curious how much Thorpe grew as an author over the years. Empire’s Daughter has a different approach to historical fiction, showing a different side of what a reader might be used to, and is not afraid to slow the space to make sure we get a clear – although maybe over-detailed – picture of what is going on. If that sounds like your jam, you most likely will have a good time getting immersed in it!

karlakayjenniges's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

"Women of Tirvan," she began, "we are once again a village of women. Four months ago, our lives consisted of farming and fishing, and our thoughts and our skills were given to these pursuits. We are something more now: a military unit, trained to fight. And we have paid a price, both personal and collective.”

Separated by the Empire's rule of the Partition Agreement, the world that these men and women live in is one of steadfast devotion to their villages. The men live as a separate entity among the military for the empire starting at a very young age. The women live as one in their villages, farming and fishing, and providing for the military men as needed. It is an agreement that is well respected and most everyone lives in contentment. 

When the empire and the villages are threatened, they all must come together to fight for the safety of their lives. This will change their way of living and will also bring change to how the Emporer will continue to rule the lands. 

The world building and customs the author developed are maticulously explained in detail, setting a clear visual of the lands in which we are immersed into a unique lifestyle. The characters are well developed with strong personalities. I especially felt the women were strong protagonists as they lived in unity and took well care of each other. When asked to step into their new roles, accept for a select few, they accept it knowing they must protect their villages with a possible new hope for the future. Their voices are heard and not just set aside by the men even though they have lived separately for hundreds of years. 

There are also themes of love and heartbreak as some choose to seperate and bind themselves to the old ways of living. 

The story ends strong as it opens up a continuation into the next book in the series. 

Quite complex but very effective in developing a journey into the lives of these men and women of the Empire.

“But we cannot shape the circumstances to fit our lives only our lives to fit the circumstances. What defines us, as men and women, is how we respond to those circumstances.”

"The swallows gather, summer passes, The grapes hang dark and sweet; Heavy are the vines, Heavy is my heart, Endless is the road beneath my feet. The sun is setting, the moon is rising, The night is long and sweet; I am gone at dawn. I am gone at day, Endless is the road beneath my feet. The cold is deeper, the winters longer, Summer is short but sweet; I will remember, I'll not forget you, Endless is the road beneath my feet."

*Alternative History
*Historical Fantasy

disreputabledog's review against another edition

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Ever feel like you're reading a different version of a book than what everyone else has? That's the case for me with Empire's Daughter. Despite the glowing reviews and genre of historical fantasy with a unique take on gender roles (which is usually right up my alley), I'm struggling to connect with the plot and characters. The plot is too straightforward for me, and all of the secondary characters blur together (doesn't help that they all have short, similar names). Every time I start to read this book, my mind immediately wanders. At the midway point, I should care more about the story than I actually do so I'm giving it up for now.

queenterribletimy's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been aware of the Empire’s Legacy series by Marian L Thorpe for a while now. Partly because of some of my friends who are huge fans of the author and partly through other channels. But I never could make up my mind about whether Empire’s Daughter would be up my alley or not. On one hand, I love historical fiction – I have a degree in History for a reason, you know, but on the other, I’m not really interested in books with a lot of military action and battles and tactics, and what have you. Gimme political games over military stuff anytime. When I opened my requests for a short while and Marian L Thorpe got in touch, I thought why not? Let’s give it a chance and see where I end up with it.

But even after finishing it just in a couple of days, I still have no idea where I’m standing with the Empire’s Daughter. I don’t think I liked it, but at the same time, I can see what Thorpe was doing here and why many readers loved it. It tells the story of an Empire that needs to be changing after rigid rules were made about 200+ years ago as new challenges are rising.

It gives us an interesting insight into a society where men and women have their own divided worlds, rules, and roles and how these interact with each other, how even the smallest changes affect them, and what reactions are given by the people. Where same-sex relationships are normal, and the two worlds only meet twice a year when it’s time for the Festival where they can have liaisons in order to have children. And even then, women have a free choice whether they want to bear children or not, knowing that every boy has to be taken away at the age of 7 to become a soldier.

It’s a story told from the POV of Lena, a young woman by their standards, even if she is only 17. She lives through these changes, even encourages some, or at least has a say in them all the while she also learns that every decision has consequences. I sometimes struggled to remember she was actually 17, as she acted above her age, but then it’s easy to forget that we are judging these characters through our modern glasses, and that societal norms were very different centuries ago.

Thorpe’s writing style makes Empire’s Daughter a smooth and easy read. It’s easy to depict Tirvan (Lena’s village) and its many features, and the people living there. What I had issues with was the pacing. It was a bit too slow for my liking. I admit I grew bored at times, especially toward the halfway point. Personally, I enjoyed the last 30% or so the best, that’s where the book really got me interested, but that’s a bit too late. I wished the first 2/3rd of the book was trimmed down a bit and the ending was in the middle where things really got going. While I appreciate slow worldbuilding, here it was just super slow. This wouldn’t have been such a big problem if 1) I was invested in the characters, which I wasn’t (considering this book is pretty character-driven, that was an issue), and 2) if I enjoyed descriptions of different pieces of training and tactics and whatnot. It’s very much a case of it’s me, not the book.

My biggest complaint with Empire’s Daughter is that it’s too… clean. Sure, there is a bit of blood, a few people die “on screen”, and some heavy topics are brought up, but on the other hand, I never really got raw emotions, nor felt the realness of some situations (or most, anyway). Some things happen off-screen I think should have been in the focus – like that time one character saves another, we are told it happens, and everyone is happy, but I’d rather have read about that than how they spent a whole day making the waterfall climbable. Although, since this was written from the POV of Lena who wasn’t present, that would have been hard to pull off, but still.

Or another example is, although Lena has a partner in Maya, she eventually decides to lay with a man – we see some of that relationship building up, but we never get Lena’s feelings about her first time with a man, specifically – but then again, I might have missed the fact she already had a male partner at a Festival, although I doubt it. And most people are just really nice or understanding and welcoming and it’s just way too feel-goody for me, especially since this is a world where war is looming. And I understand that it was important to show that men in this world can be thoughtful and caring and have a soft side despite the fact they’ve been trained as soldiers since their birth. And yes, there are asshole characters – there always are – but they are few and far between and usually there to show how super nice everyone else is. It feels weird to complain about this as I like cozy reads, but I also prefer asshole characters. Not sure what that says about me…

One more thing I wanted to mention is the lack of religion – or rather, we know that there is a goddess, but faith doesn’t get an important role in this world, nor is there much talk about it. Which I find curious, because religion, myths, and legends were always at the center of most civilizations. And this is what fascinates me in any type of worldbuilding – how faith and god(s) come into play regarding the main plot or even just the characters’ everyday life.

I probably could go on with a lot more thoughts, but this already turned out to be another long review. So, in closing, I’m going to say that Empire’s Daughter is a debut novel that gives much food for thought. It’s not exactly what I expected and I might not have been the right audience, but I can see the intent behind it, and I’m curious how much Thorpe grew as an author over the years. Empire’s Daughter has a different approach to historical fiction, showing a different side of what a reader might be used to, and is not afraid to slow the space to make sure we get a clear – although maybe over-detailed – picture of what is going on. If that sounds like your jam, you most likely will have a good time getting immersed in it! 

liisp_cvr2cvr's review against another edition

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5.0

This book…! Now this book is just something special…

This book gives a reader so much more than just one idea, one plot, one theme around strong women. This book will have you witness an Empires current, past and future affairs with its history literally changing before your eyes. It was absolutely fantastic!

In short- we are dealing with a way of life where males, from the age of 7, leave the villages to fight for the Empire and women are left behind in the villages to live, to manage, to work on food, clothing, farming, fishing. The women live in pairs- this was something that confused me in the beginning- they live in pairs? Like pairs-pairs? In some cases yes, romantically. In other cases just for support and companionship. And yet! During the Festivals where men are visiting the villages, they pair up with the women to produce offsprings. Meh, produce offsprings sounds so mechanical. Hehehe @ mechanical. Oh-Kay! Moving on!

So, this way of life has been in place for a couple of centuries- the men are gone to the army, the women hold the village life together by following a fairly political way of handling things (meetings, voting, no one speaks out of turn, that kind of stuff). One day, everything changes when a man comes to the village of Tirvan (same happens in other villages) and asks the women to learn how to fight to defend themselves and possibly to kill as there is a threat to their lives from a country of Leste. Trade used to work with no problem in between those two, but now Leste wants to come and raid for food. This causes women to change the foundations of their morals, their beliefs and the very foundations of their upbringing as they have agreed for decades that women do NOT kill.

But, as the women meet and vote, most of them agree to learn, even if for self-defense, to use knives, bows, swords. And so this book’s very being is set to motion- it’s kind of like a survival course and I mean it as a compliment. The story is full of strong, independent, hands on, not afraid of work kind of women. Not that I am a feminist or anything, but I truly appreciate the idea that when needed, the woman can take care of herself whether it is hunting, fishing, or wielding and axe (to chop wood of course!) :) In this story, the women, even though having men in the village for a while to help train them into combat, must face the raiding tides on their own as men have the Wall to defend and some will sail to Leste to overtake the threat.

I must say, I really like this book- there’s no excuses, do what must be done and get on with it. Much the way I like to live my own life. Don’t like something? A job task at an inconvenient time? Plans not coming to fruition as per wishes of “Princess But-I-Want”? Too bad, sissy, change your mindset and get on with it.

Anyway, as is natural to many things in life not everyone agrees to pick up arms and learn how to fight. Some women from all of the villages across the Empire stick to their beliefs and refuse to stay to defend their homes. So, they are exiled…

This is only the first half of the book. The story evolves so much more… New friendships are being forged, past beliefs are being put to a test. Our main character Lena will end up on a mighty adventure. Not only on horseback travelling through the Empire, but also on a journey to understand her heart, to learn who she is and what it is that she will stand for. Will women once again end up living alongside men? Or will they stay separated as per the old ways and only come together during Festivals for brief mechanical encounters?

A very strong and impactful book! Marian’s first novel in fact and I am in awe at how beautifully and well written it is! In fact, unless Marian is a pro at surviving in the wild she has done some awesome research into strategy, and everything involved in real hard work. I definitely recommend to give this one a go. A glimpse into the second book Empire’s Hostage tells me I need to read how the story evolves!

writingwwolves's review

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5.0

Another self-published book is going down on my 2019 favourites list!! I love how unique the world-building in this story is & how much it stands out because of it; I love the strength of the women in the story & how well thought out all the characters are. Even though this book is around 320 pages it felt double that length because of how much happens & I was completely consumed throughout the whole read because of the detail & depth of the plot. My copy of book two is on its way to my house & I can’t wait to pick it up.

⚠️ Violence, sexism, one scene of sexual assault (unwanted groping), hunting & war themes ⚠️

I was sent this book to review as part of a blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.

Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2YY

maitaylor01's review

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4.0

I had a feeling that Empire’s Daughter was a book that I was going to enjoy from the moment I started reading and discovered not only a character list but a map, two things that always put a smile on my face. It is one of the downsides of reading on a Kindle that I can’t flick back and forth as easily as I would like, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Empire’s Daughter presents the fascinating premise of a society segregated by duty, only reuniting twice a year, until everything that they believe in is shaken to its foundations. As if it wasn’t sad enough that boys of seven leave their homes, unlikely to return, the further divisions between loved ones tugs even harder on the heartstrings. As the women of the Empire discover skills they never dreamt they had and forge new relationships, I was utterly gripped by the story.

While a lot of books from this genre save an epic battle as the story’s climax, Empire’s Daughter goes deeper than that, and whilst the the battle may be over by halfway through the book, the lives of so many people are changed forever. It is these changes that really caught my attention and will keep me coming back for the rest of the trilogy. There were so many characters that I fell in lovely and I am eager to find out what the future holds for each of them.

samanthapearl's review

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5.0

I received a free copy of this book from the author via Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lena and Maya make a great pair. They are friends, lovers and have been since their tender teen years. For over 200 years the men and women of The Empire have lived separately. The women hunt, fish and have various other trade skills like making and mending clothing and other needed items; the men are soldiers, from the age of 7 they train to fight in The Emperor's Army keeping the entire Empire safe. One day the threat of war causes the Emperor to make a difficult decision, asking the women to put aside the Partition and learn to fight to defend their land. Their choice is simple, learn to fight or exile. Lena chooses to fight, Maya chooses exile. Now the two must part ways and for the first time they must navigate through their lives without each other.

This book is told in first-person point of view. This story was so good and the writing was absolutely wonderful. Thorpe gives us a wonderfully detailed picture of the places within the story. The characters themselves are also done perfectly. I found Empire's Daughter to be easily enjoyable. The pace is slower but not drawn out; it fits the story well.

I was feeling a lot things in this story. There are so many elements and events that lead you to feel different things from happiness and excitement to frustration and disappointment. Everything is challenged in this book from societal norms, personal beliefs and desires, and even when to abide by the law and when to bend or brake it. It's like watching an entire society unfold and then having them try to figure out how best to put it back together. Things will never be as they once were, roles are being redefined and now everyone must find their place in The Empire all over again.

What I liked most about this book was the strong female characters. The women are given a choice if they want to learn to fight to protect themselves and their land in the pending war. Some women choose not to and instead take their chances with exile, like Maya. The majority of the women chose to fight. This happens early in the book and it totally pumped me up for the book ahead. The women all coming together breaking tradition to defend their families and land hooked me.

"We defended our animals, and ourselves, with weapons." She thumped her staff on the floor. " I have killed a wolf or two in my time, and I would do it again. Why is this any different, except this time the wolves have two legs?"

I thought of Maya, of her passionate conviction that women did not fight, did not kill. I wondered if she would see the necessity of this ruling, or if she would think only that we had betrayed her beliefs.

Overall, I recommend reading this book. It is classified as fantasy but there are no magical elements to it. If you enjoy strong female characters, a dash of love and a sprinkle of hope and betrayal than you will probably enjoy this book. I definitely intend on finishing this trilogy.

You can read this and all my other reviews at https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/?m=1

carmen_et_error's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

tavenorcd's review

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5.0

Marian Thorpe’s Empire’s Daughter, the first book of her Empire’s Legacy series, takes place in the fictional land known simply as “The Empire.” Written in the first person, the tale follows Lena, a young woman raised in the coastal town of Tirvan. Within the first few pages, I realized I’d stumbled upon a truly special story; for Thorpe has created an alternative world that bends gender and sexual norms in brilliant form.

In the Empire, women live separate from men. The men all join the military at a young age, while the women live in villages scattered throughout the land, as established by a treaty between men and women centuries before the narrative. Women raise both boys and girls until the age of seven, when the men come to take their sons off to war.

But this world isn’t some strange sexist place where men rule over women; the arrangement was mutually established, and men and women view each other as equals throughout. I won’t spoil how Thorpe continually complicates gender dynamics throughout the book, but this alternative reality she’s created truly forces readers to think about the absurdity of “traditional” gender and sexual rules that exist in our world today. Just imagine if history had followed an alternative path, what possibilities could have occurred.

Yes, I’ve been raving about the setting, but the characters of Empire’s Daughter are also incredibly diverse in their beliefs, convictions, and behaviors. On one page you’ll meet a bull-headed, stubborn women, on the next the insightful old grandmother. Elsewhere, you’ll meet the thoughtful military commander, immediately followed by the drunken disorderly soldier. Through her characters, Thorpe breathes life into her world in a way few writers can.

Finally, I can’t emphasize enough that Thorpe knows how to continuously raise the stakes of conflicts, both internal and external, as she constantly expands and contracts the plot throughout the story. And every conflict pays off, in curious, intriguing, thoughtfully thematic ways.

I highly recommend Empire’s Daughter. Any reader will find something to enjoy in this novel.

Writing: 9/10. Thorpe’s writing is some of the cleanest I’ve seen of indie-authors, and she successfully draws you in with her rich descriptions and sensory experiences.

Characters: 10/10. Even through a first person perspective, Thorpe makes you feel the emotions and pains of other characters. That’s hard to accomplish.

Setting: 9/10. I only withhold ten points from this category because I earned absolutely no context for lands (save one) beyond the Empire’s borders. It’s not necessary for this story, perhaps, but given the detail provided everything else, I wish I’d learned just a little about the geopolitics of the world!

Plot: 10/10. All conflicts serve a purpose and connect with powerful themes that undercut every page. You will want resolution alongside Lena, the main character, and you’ll be rooting for wins for other characters, too!

Overall: 9.5/10. Empire’s Daughter receives the second five star review from The Two Doctors Review. Well done, Marian Thorpe!